Third rail.



PATBNTED JULY 9, 1907. G. A. BLUHM. THIRD RAIL. urmonmn rum: r123. 2-1, 1900.

CHARLES A. BLUHM, OF MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA.

THIRD RAIL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Jul 's, 1907.

Application filed February 27, 1906. Serial No; 805,265.

' To all whom it may concern:

,Be it known that I, CHARLES A. BLUHM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Michigan City, in

' the county of Laporte and State of Indiana, have inconducting material.

vented certain new and useful Improvements in Third Rails, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in thirdrails adapted to be used in connection with a trolley wheel, it being laid between-the regular rails of the track, the object being to provide improved means for conducting heavy electric currents, through a slotted hollow rail, through the medium of a conductor of copper or other like material, in connection with a bonded track rail which is used for the return circuit.

A further object is to construct an electric current conveying third-rail, from which the electric current of the conductor, may be conveyed by a trolley wheel, to an electric locomotive, or motor car, without interruption at crossings or public thoroughfares.

With the foregoing objects and others in view, this invention comprises a hollow slotted third-rail composed in the main of two steel slot rails or guards, separated by an insulation of suitable material, such for instance, as pressed paper, chemically hardened,

and covered with a fire-proof paint, or of any other approved non-conducting or insulating material, upon which the conductor is mounted and thoroughly insulated from the slot or guard rails, the latter being bonded at the ends by fish plates, in the usual manner, and the conductor ends connected by a removable bond capable of being taken out or replaced when removing or repairing a rail.

My invention still further consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal section through the third-rail, parts being shown in side elevation, Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a plan view and horizontal section of the bonded ends of two conductors, Fig. 5 is a detail view of the bond, and Fig. 6 is a view of the rail showing the slotted end.

A, A, represent the'two slot or guard rails, between which are interposed the insulating cores 1, made of pressed paper, chemically hardened, and covered with a fire-proof paint or of any other approved non- Instead of extending continuously, these cores are made in short lengths preferably, with spaces between their ends whereby to dispose of water, or other material falling into the slot. The

, slot or guard rails are provided with ribs 12, which run the length of the rail, and the slot or guard rails and insulating cores are held securely together by means of bolts 2, 2, and on these bolts, sleeves 13, 13 are received, which are notched at their ends to fit the ribs 12, thereby holding the guard rails at an equal distance apart; and at the joints between the rails the usual fish-plates 3, 3 are employed. The base flanges of the slot or guard rails rest upon chairs 4, 4, the chairs and rails being spiked tothe ties 5, 5 in the accustomed manner.

The copper conductor 0 is centrally supported preierably through the third-rail in a groove 11 in the in sulating material 1, it extending across or bridging the distance from core to core, as shown in Fig. 1. These conductors are secured tothe cores in any convenient manner, as for instance by means of the screws 6, 6 extending through holes therefor in the conductors and cores, and into nuts 7, 7 in the brackets 8, 8, made of pressed paper, which hold these nuts 7, in place so that they are always in position to receive the screws, and the brackets are secured to the insulating cores by means of the screws 9, 9. At their ends the conductors are connected by means of the flanged bond B which is received between the forked ends 0, c, of the conductor, and approximately corresponds with the width of the cable, as shown in Figs. 1' and 4, blocks 10, preferably of rubber being inserted in the orifices formed between the forked ends and thus constructed may be used on a surface road as well as an elevated, on a public highway or crossing, as well as on long stretches through the country without danger to pedestrians, or objects crossing or coming in contact with the slot' or guard rails.

To replace a rail, the screws or bolts 6, 6 are loosened slightly by inserting a screw-driver through the slotted opening of the hollow rails. Then the rubber plugs 10, 10 at the ends of the bond B are removed, after which the bonds at each end of a conductor are slid into the recesses left by the plugs the fish-plates at the rail joints are unbolted and the rails removed and another replaced for the same one as the case may be. When the rail is put back or replaced, the bonds are moved to the center, the bolts tightened, with a screw driver, the plugs 10 are inserted and the fish-plates and bolts are fastened in place, whereupon the thirdrail is ready for use by simply turning on the current.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A third-rail comprising slot or guard rails, insulating I cores interposed therebetween, means for securing said parts rigidly together, flanged bonds movably supported between the ends of the conductors, conductors secured to the insulating cores and interlocked with the bonds, and

means for securing the conductors to the insulating cores. 2. A third-rail comprising slot or guard rails, insulating cores interposed therebetween, means for securing said parts rigidly together, flanged bonds movably supported between the ends of the conductors, conductors secured to the insulating cores and interlocked with the bonds, means for securing the conductors to the insulating cores, and

removable plugs between the ends of the conductors and ends of the conductor, the main portion of the bond approximately fitting the forked ends of the conductor.

5. The combination with conductors having forked ends, of a flanged bond which is received between the forked ends of the conductor, the main portion of the bond approximately fitting the forked ends of the conductor and rubber blocks inserted in the orifices formed between the forked ends and the bond to prevent dirt or water from settling in the orifices.

6. A third rail, comprising slot or guard rails having notches or openings at their ends, insulating cores interposed between the slot or guard rails, conductors secured to the cores and removable flanged bonds received between the ends of the conductors, the flanges of the bonds adapted to be passed through the notches .or openings in the ends of the slot or guard rails, when a rail is removed or replaced. v

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A. BLUHM.

Two witnesses:

WORTH W. PEPPLn, HENRY BLUHM. 

